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A successful customer experience connecting online and offline worlds is emerging as the new El Dorado.
Over the last couple of years, manufacturers have been forced to think on their feet and quickly adapt their business strategy and operations.
It also gave them an opportunity to catch up with other industries and sharpen focus in areas like customer relationships/service, strengthen supply chain to avert bottlenecks, launch new products and services as new demand patterns emerged.
Self-isolation and store closures forced changes to customers behaviors. Customer access to products and services were significantly shut off.
While the manufacturing industry was changing, so were its customers.
When customers could not visit their stores, eye healthcare products company Bausch + Lomb was quick to adjust to this new reality.
“Instead of waiting for our customers, we started to proactively reach out to them about our products/services, digital and delivery options, health safeguards etc.” says Kavita Bijlani, CIO, Bausch + Lomb, India.
This direct engagement with customers was made possible with Oracle CX Cloud, alongside Responsys, which helped the company to capture intents and actions, and derive valuable insights about customer behavior.
“We ran around 50 targeted campaigns that helped us to increase engagement, drive higher conversion rates, and ultimately, cut down on our acquisition costs by 80%. The results have been transformative and gave us the confidence to scale up even during such unprecedented times,” informs Bijlani.
With these solutions, the company now has visibility around customer behaviors, and can now create more targeted marketing efforts.
Having achieved strong results in the digital space, the company is now looking to crack the Research Online-Purchase Offline (ROPO) behavior by delivering an excellent brand experience digitally and physically.
Going forward, a visit to store or mall needs to be worth our time and energy. Earlier in 2021, for a short time, store openings beat closures. And then again, many businesses had to shutter their physical premises and move operations online.
This shift has now led brands to create an environment for customers where both the worlds can meet at all times.
As one of the world’s largest suppliers of contact lenses, lens care products, pharmaceuticals, intraocular lenses, and other eye surgery products, Bausch + Lomb is now looking at “phygital” (Physical + Digital) to offer customers; a completely seamless experience.
The ultimate goal of integrating both these worlds is to get the best from each one, and deliver unique, highly-personalized customer experiences that leaves a long-lasting impact.
“Maximizing both online and offline to fuel each other has become one of the top priorities for us today,” says Bijlani.
As connecting the online and offline worlds emerges as the new El Dorado, the company is focusing on data analytics/AI/ML, chatbots, cloud and social platforms to personalize and drive the phygital experience.
“We are launching small projects to create a proof of concept using these tools, and then finding the use cases to roll it out,” says Bijlani.
With the advancement of technology, transparency has been established between brands and consumers.
However, there are concerns around data privacy/regulations, as contact lenses fall under the category of medical devices. And this may hinder data collection and getting insights. “Customers might not be comfortable to share sensitive data with us, and we respect their choice,” shares Bijlani.
Until then, the company is relying on every tool in its arsenal to listen to the “Voice of the Customer” to understand how best it can serve their needs while optimizing and taking advantage of the time the customer does spend online or in-store.
“That’s how we are redefining our strategy and creating a space for customers where they can enjoy comfort and conviction. The phygital model for us is going to stay,” says Bijlani.


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More from Coolsmartphone
- Google Now tells you to get off the bus/train.
- Sony selfie phone leaks
- Jelly Bean for S3 coming soon…
- MWC – Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition on show
- IFA – Invasion of the Android Tablets?
- TVGenius – Get reminded about your favourite TV shows
- Google release underwater maps of coral reefs
- 20% off Kindle Fire family HDX tablets in Amazon UK sale

domain: news


text: For months (years, maybe), we have heard that Microsoft has been working on a search technology that will out-Google Google. So far, it hasn’t really happened. Last week, however, MSN debuted a revamped MSN Search, which looks a little like Google. The back-end of the search engine is still provided by Yahoo!, so MSN still has a good way to go. SearchDay has a review of the updated search engine, and the New York Times has more.


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The announcement is of those that must be taken with pliers, but we believe it is worth however worth telling you what has just been leaked on the PSN ID.
Let's get to the heart of the matter immediately: in the 4.14 update changelog for U the SDK (Software Development Kit) of, among other things, is mentioned PlayStation 4 version 4.08.061, which will basically be used to support the latest update of the graphics engine.
Here "the scoop": a NeoGAF user (a forum, defined by themselves as "hardcore gamers) is keen to let you know that, continuing to read the changelog, it can be seen that Sony changes are planned regarding the" recommendations to developers " to allow players to be identified via their account ID rather than online ID.
Sony could therefore try the path already traveled by Steam, keeping an unalterable online ID for identification for all users, and create an editable account ID with which to interface with other players.
If so, one of the most requested changes by online players on PlayStation could come: for some time, players have been asking for the possibility of being able to change their PSN ID, but the Japanese company had not yet expressed itself. Has the turning point arrived?


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- Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building - http://inhabitat.com -
Maersk Buys 10 Triple-E Vessels, the Greenest Container Ships Ever Built
Posted By Jessica Dailey On February 22, 2011 @ 9:27 am In Green Transportation,Innovation | 2 Comments
The world’s largest container line, Maersk , is making waves thanks to its impressive green improvements: yesterday the company announced  that it signed a deal to purchase ten Triple-E ships , the most eco-friendly and efficient container  ships ever built, with an option to buy twenty more. If all 30 ships are purchased, the deal would reach $5.7 billion, the largest order in shipping history.
Maersk invested in the the new mega-ships  due to their energy efficiency, lower environmental impact, and economy of scale. The ships will be the greenest container  ship to ever set sail, producing 50 percent less CO2 than the industry standard for Asia-Europe trips and consuming 35 percent less fuel per container. Not only do the ships set a green benchmark, but they will be the largest shipping vessel ever built. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., a South Korean company, will build the ships, which will be 400m long, 59m wide, 73m tall, and carry 16 percent more than the current standard.
“One of the biggest challenges we face in the world today is how to meet the growing needs of a growing population and while minimising the impact that is going to have on our planet,” Maersk Line CEO Eivind Kolding said in a statement . “International trade will continue to play a key role in the development of the global economy; but, for the health of the planet, we must continue to reduce our CO2 emissions.”
Maersk will use the ships to transport everything from gadgets to groceries between Asia and Western ports that are big enough to handle them, including Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Felixstowe in England. U.S. ports are too small to handle the vessels.
Long a green innovator, Maersk has a strict and detailed environmental policy  and, a few years ago, it became the first shipping company to independently study its fleet’s CO2 emissions. Many people consider the number of miles a product had to travel when thinking about its impact on the planet, and Maersk wanted to accurately understand a product’s whole carbon life cycle to help them be more efficient.
Shipping is possibly the most efficient form of transport, but that does not mean that the industry can ignore its contribution to global warming. By purchasing eco-friendly ships, Maersk is reducing its impact and setting a green example for container  shipping. Here’s hoping that more companies will do the same.
Via Treehugger
Photo credits: Maersk
Article printed from Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/maersk-buys-10-triple-e-vessels-the-greenest-container-ships-ever-built/
URLs in this post:
 Maersk: http://www.maerskline.com/link/?page=home
 announced: http://www.maerskline.com/link/?page=news&path=/news/story_page/11/Triple_E
 Triple-E ships: http://www.worldslargestship.com/#
 container: http://inhabitat.com/tag/shipping-containers
 environmental policy: http://www.maerskline.com/link/?page=brochure&path=/about_us/environment
 Treehugger: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/02/maersk-goes-big-energy-efficient-massive-container-ships.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Copyright © 2011 Inhabitat Local - New York. All rights reserved.


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Beyoncé Promotes Her New Ivy Park Collection in a Striking British Vogue Cover, Naturally
Beyoncé modeled Ivy Park in one of her three British Vogue covers, and, well, that's one way to promote a new collection. Days after releasing her second athleisure range with Adidas, Beyoncé was revealed as the star of the magazine's December 2020 issue, and would appear in a 20-page fashion story shot by 21-year-old photographer Kennedi Carter, who is now the youngest person to have shot a British Vogue cover.
In her most colorful cover, Beyoncé wears a yellow Ivy Park jumpsuit, oversized organza jacket and matching bucket hat that doesn't appear to be available for purchase, at least as of right now. At $140 for the jumpsuit and $160 for the jacket, the look is decidedly the most affordable of the three. Accessible, on the other hand, it is not, as much of the collection famously sold out in a flash.
Another cover shows Beyoncé in an architectural, black Alexander McQueen evening jacket with red accents, which the brand's creative director Sarah Burton said was unexpectedly inspired by Welsh love spoons. "The heart is a universal symbol of both strength and love," Sarah told British Vogue. "Beyoncé is an icon who inspires both of those things in people of all ages around the world."
And then, of course, there is the final, supremely sexy cover of Beyoncé posing in a mesh bodysuit by Mugler. Creative director Casey Cadwallader said the bodysuit, which is comprised of 64 panels, has been in the works since 2017, and ultimately took 100 hours to sew. Casey said, "Beyoncé is our queen and this look is fit for a queen."
Take a closer look at all three of Beyoncé's British Vogue covers ahead.


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Who better than eight of the most iconic '90s supermodels to relaunch one of the decade's most iconic brands?
Today, Feb. 8, 2024, Donna Karan New York announces its return to fashion with a brand-new photoshoot starring Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow, Carolyn Murphy, Imaan Hammam, Karlie Kloss, and Liya Kebede.
Besides bringing together eight industry legends for a shoot by celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz (one can only imagine the schedule coordination involved), the "In Women We Trust" campaign celebrates Donna Karan New York's singular vision of "timeless elegance, empowered women, and accessible luxury—tailored for today’s women," per a press release. As Evangelista explained in an interview with the brand, “Donna represents strength and sensuality. You can be whoever you want to be."
Best known for popularizing the capsule wardrobe, Donna Karan New York's "essentials" line changed the way women dressed forever. “She introduced a new style of power dressing, which celebrated women and their bodies. That was her sweet spot, and it still is,” said Crawford. The new relaunch aims to capture that essence — and represent the company's past, present, and future.
Naturally, the team looked to the original Donna Karan New York for design inspiration, pulling vintage pieces and drawing details from the brand's substantial archive. You'll find modern classics like crisp cotton shirts, well-cut bodysuits, and versatile draped dresses in the collection, as well as hero pieces like a lightweight blazer inspired by Karan's "7 Easy Pieces" dressing formula.
The bottom line? “It’s not about the clothes. It’s always been about the woman in the clothes,” said Valletta.
Donna Karan New York's Spring 2024 collection is available globally on Feb. 8, 2024, on DonnaKaran.com and in select retailers.


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SACRAMENTO, CA, January 26, 2017 – Every facet of the wine industry, from research and science to emerging trends and markets, was examined, discussed and debated at the 23rd Unified Wine & Grape Symposium (Unified), which wrapped up here today. The largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the Unified drew thousands of industry professionals from all over the world anxious to learn about the latest data, trends, technology, research and issues shaping their business futures.
Presented since 1995 by two nonprofit organizations, the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), the Unified’s growing importance highlights the wine industry’s critical need for leading-edge data and information.
“From the opening address by New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov to the dozens of marketing, business, winemaking and grape growing panel discussions, the Unified delivered exceptional content to our attendees, who leave the show better prepared to make effective decisions for their businesses,” says John Aguirre, CAWG president.
Put on by the industry for the industry, the three-day-long Unified draws from the input of some of the sharpest minds in the wine business. The featured program, which included 19 presentations and panel discussions, was organized by a diverse panel of volunteers who not only crafted topic discussions but also helped recruit more than 80 experts to speak on these topics. This was all complemented by the two-day 170,000 square foot trade show that housed nearly 700 exhibitors.
“For three days, this is where the most dynamic thinking, discussions and planning take place for the American wine industry,” says ASEV Executive Director Dan Howard. “Whether it’s on the exhibit floor, in conference rooms or over a glass of wine, the Unified offers a rare opportunity for all elements of our industry to gather and share their thoughts, ideas and insights.”
While the Unified focuses primarily on American winemaking and winegrape production, over 30 countries are represented among the guests and exhibitors, underscoring the international flavor of the event. Approximately 14,000 guests attended this year’s Unified.
Jointly organized by ASEV and CAWG, the Unified represents the collective experience, knowledge and background of the entire industry. The 2018 Unified will once again be held at the Sacramento Convention Center and is slated for January 23-25.
There are still a few seats available for you and your colleagues to have lunch with New York Times wine critic, columnist and book author Eric Asimov.
Asimov will give the keynote address on the opening day of the 2017 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Tuesday, January 24, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. It’s a great way to kick off your three days of the Unified.
SACRAMENTO, CA. September 19, 2016, – Noted New York Times wine critic, columnist and book author Eric Asimov, will deliver the keynote luncheon speech on the opening day of the 2017 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Tuesday, January 24, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 28, 2016 – Ready to tap into the latest technology, trends and innovations shaping their industry, thousands of wine and grape industry professionals from all over the world attended the 22nd Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, which concluded its three-day run in Sacramento today.
SACRAMENTO, CALIF., October 16, 2015 – Fred Franzia, CEO of Bronco Wine Company, will present the keynote luncheon address the first day of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Tuesday, January 26, 2016.
SACRAMENTO, Calif, June 29, 2015… Water, the economy, new technology, emerging trends – those are just some of the pressing topics on the minds of industry professionals, so it should come as no surprise that they are also slated to be on the program of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium next January 26 through 28, 2016. Over two dozen industry leaders volunteered to be on the Unified’s 2016 Program Development Committee and met in a pair of full-day meetings to identify the most compelling topics and speakers to address the needs of the American wine industry.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 29, 2015 – Eager to tap into the latest technology, trends and innovations shaping their industry, 14,000 wine and grape industry professionals from all over the world attended the 21st Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, which concluded its three-day run in Sacramento today.
SACRAMENTO, CA, November 21, 2014 – Jackson Family Wines President Rick Tigner will open the 2015 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium as the keynote speaker during the luncheon on Tuesday, January 27. Tigner will address key issues affecting U.S. wine companies in a highly competitive global marketplace, including the constraints U.S. wine producers face when growing their labels, addressing foreign market opportunities, and overcoming the challenges of sustainably managing resources and controlling costs in California’s highly regulated environment.
SACRAMENTO, CA, January 30, 2014 – Even after 20 years, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium (Unified) continues to grow, once again drawing record crowds to the Sacramento Convention Center to learn about the trends, data and innovations shaping the industry.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Former owner of Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks co-founder, Jerry Baldwin, will present the keynote luncheon address on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, the first day of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.
SACRAMENTO, CA – More than 13,000 wine and grape professionals from around the globe gathered here at the 19th annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium (Unified) to learn about new trends, sample the latest products and, in the process, set another attendance record for the largest show of its kind in the Americas.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Will the economy improve significantly in 2013 or continue to struggle? Will consumers buy more ‘value wines’ or will they choose to trade up? Will the hot selling varietals stay hot or be overrun by something else? These are just some of the issues the 2013 Unified Symposium Program Development Committee is considering while developing the program for January’s event. And while much work is still to be done, many aspects, like the general sessions and Spanish sessions, are taking shape.
SACRAMENTO, CA – The largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium broke its own record this week by drawing a crowd of 12,400 guests to the Sacramento Convention Center.
Visitors from every corner of the globe, including Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa, China and Europe, attended the three-day industry event to view presentations, displays and enjoy wine tasting aimed at providing insights and information shaping the wine industry.
SACRAMENTO, CA, January 20, 2012 – For one week each January, Sacramento becomes the focal point of the wine and grape world as the 2012 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium opens at the Sacramento Convention Center for a three-day run Jan. 24 – 26, 2012.
SACRAMENTO, CA, August 1, 2011 – While the wine and grape industry is getting ready for the 2011 harvest, the 2012 Unified Symposium Program Development Committee has been hard at work developing the program for January’s event. And while much work is still to be done, some aspects, like the general sessions are taking shape.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Where can you join 12,000 of your peers, business associates and close friends, and see the latest in services and equipment for the wine and grape industry? Nowhere but at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium to be held at the Sacramento Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Sacramento, January 25-27, 2011.
Now in its 17th year, the Symposium will be enhanced in 2011 with nearly 600 exhibitors and speakers from around the world at the largest event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
UW&GS Representation or Misrepresentation – Please Exercise Caution!
The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium (UW&GS) encourages you to exercise caution for any solicitations for discounted hotel rates or directory listings which often include advertising solicitations. There are many show directories that target attendees, sponsors and exhibitors from other shows including ours. These solicitations are often mailed and appear to be from the Unified Symposium, CAWG or ASEV and they are not.
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, LLC Web Link & Logo License Agreement
UW&GS will grant to you a personal, nonexclusive, nontransferable license to hyperlink (“Link”) your Internet website to UW&GS’s Internet website, and/or use UW&GS’s Web link logo (“Link Logo”) as part of your Internet website subject to the following terms and conditions: You must accept all terms and conditions in this Agreement.


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According to the data that KGI Securities acquired, the latest model of iMac which was introduced in 2012 was sold in far less copies than it was expected at Apple. Analysts believe that the reason for this is primarily high price which makes iMac non-competitive in smaller markets and in emerging one such as China.
Last week there were rumors of a possible postponement of the new iMac. The reason they were supposed to be late was production problems due to the complicated design so the rollout should have started next year. But it looks like Apple has something else in mind and they do not want to have any delays in any case.
The shipping date for the ultrathin Apple iMac desktop computers could be much later than the Apple's initial plans. Apple's announcement regarding the iMac during a presentation in October, claimed the beginning of November as a start date for the21.5-inch models shipping , while the 27-inch should be available in December.


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Ladies! Black Friday is fast approaching, the day where shopping takes top priority for all the right reasons! Bargain hunters across the UK and around the world, try to grab themselves a great deal heading into the festive period.
The annual shopping event has been a huge success in America for years, but now shoppers on this side of the Atlantic can look forward to a day of huge discounts as more and more UK retailers get in on the fun and games.
We festive Britons are expected to spend £2,887,500 per minute on Black Friday this year, amounting to a total of £1.39 billion across the day! An estimated £810 million was splashed out on Black Friday in the UK last year, more than double the year before!
Shops are set to make a total of £3.49 billion over the four-day spending spree, culminating with Cyber Monday, with UK shoppers expected to be responsible for two-thirds of Black Friday sales in Europe. We love it!
If you are hoping to get in on the bargains then below we've rounded up key information including when Black Friday is, our top five retailers slashing prices and a selection of the best Black Friday deals.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is on November 27th.
It is thought that shoppers may start seeing offers from as early as Monday, November 23rd though.
Online deals are likely to start from midnight, and some participating retailers will open their doors from then too.Why is it called Black Friday?
There are couple of different theories behind the name but a popular one is that it means prosperity. Also, when shops would mark down earnings it would show gains in black ink and losses in red ink.Which shops will be offering Black Friday deals?
Top 5 Black Friday Retailers
1. Amazon online only - check out the best Amazon Black Friday deals
2. Currys in stores and online- check out the best Currys Black Friday deals
3. Debenhams in stores and online- check out the best Debenhams Black Friday deals
4. Marks & Spencer in stores and online- check out the best M&S Black Friday deals
5. Boots in stores and online- check out the best Boots Black Friday deals
Best Black Friday deals 2015
PS4: This looks like the best PS4 bundle out there at the moment, especially if you're a Fallout and/or Call of Duty fan. Pick up the 500GB PS4 with Fallout 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops III for just £319.99 at Zavvi
TV and Video Deals
55-inch TV: Large 3D TV heavily reduced, down to £849 at Currys
Headphone and audio deals
Wireless Headset: Get the Sony SBH20 Bluetooth Wireless headset for only £16.99 at www.7dayshop.com
iPad and Tablet deals
Amazon Fire: Get Amazon's 7-inch budget tablet for just £49.99 at Currys
Laptop and Macbook deals
Lenovo: Pick up this handy Lenovo laptop which is down to just £168.98 at Ebuyer
Apple Watch: with 38mm Sports Band in Space Grey & Black - now £299 at Currys
DVD and Blu-ray deals
Blu-ray: Transformers 1-3 Box Set Blu-ray now £7.80 at Zavvi
Black Friday Sales with Cashback... What are you waiting for! Comment and let us know your experiences of Black Friday.


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MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. - After several flash floods this summer, businesses in Manitou Springs want you to know they are still open and prepared, just in case.
"All the merchants have been trained to get the visitors that are in their shops or in their restaurants packed up and out and send them to the safety zones," said Floyd O'Neil with the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Manitou Springs was hit by minor floods in July and August and a large flood August 9. When rain storms hit the nearby Waldo Canyon burn scar, there's no vegetation to hold the water, so rain and debris run off the slopes, down Waldo Canyon and nearby Williams Canyon, right into Manitou Springs.
Dave Symonds, owner of the Stagecoach Inn, said when the big flood hit on a Friday night, they were ready. Symonds evacuated his customers and staff. He came back to a parking lot covered in a foot of mud, some mud in his basement storage areas and a damaged fence.
"You can just see that there's a spot where some kind of projectile went though the fence," Symonds said. "There's a whole section of it at the very end that just went down the creek."
Symonds said the difference for his business was a decision to brick up two basement windows on the creekside of his business.
"I had a mason come out and we bricked them up to the level where we thought, 'That's about where the flood water may come to,'" Symonds said.
The water went up about 18 inches of the brick work.
"If we hadn't done that, I'm certain my basement would have been about 4 feet of water in it," Symonds said.
Symonds said when crews went into the creek behind the business to remove the debris, they pulled out several 12-foot long boards and even, a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The Stagecoach Inn not only survived the flood, the restaurant was open the next day and hosted a birthday party.
Other businesses were not so lucky.
Good Karma coffee shop on Canon Avenue ended up in the middle of two water flows. The overflowing creek on one side and a wall of water and debris flowing down the street in front of the shop.
"It was like a river, it was a good four or five inches of rushing water," Good Karma manager Hannah Kosobucki explained. "It looked like you could go white water rafting on it."
While sandbags kept the water out of the main floor lounge, it flowed into the basement.
"It's because we had a doorway right over the creek and the water just poured in," explained Hannah Kosobucki.
The basement flooded with more than six feet of water, mud and debris. It not only ruined the items stored in the basement, it ruined the shop's hot water heater.
Fortunately, the next morning, there were dozens of volunteers ready to help cleanup.
"We had a whole bucket brigade coming up from the basement people mucking that out," Kosobucki said. "It really made the turn around a lot quicker than normal, I think."
Good Karma opened one week after the worst flooding.
Ten days later, all of the businesses in town had reopened except two, Adams Mountain Cafe and Divine Wine, which sit in a place where Canon Avenue curves. While the street curved, the water flowed into the businesses doing extensive damage to their infrastructure.
While visitors to the main shopping districts in Manitou Springs may see lines of sandbags outside businesses, much of the muck is long gone.
"You wouldn't think anything happened," O'Neil said. "Even those most damaged streets look a little dirty here and there, but we are in business."


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Car boot sales selling second-hand furniture, toys and more are being trialled at 2 Ikea sites – and could be rolled out to more stores if they're a hit
Exciting news for fans of everyone's favourite flatpack furniture brand, Ikea.
The Swedish company will be holding FREE car boot-style events this weekend at 2 of its stores, where you can pick up some bargain second-hand furniture products.
But it's not Ikea that's doing the selling, rather members of the public are being invited to buy and sell.
The event will be free for sellers who have items they want to give a new home and for shoppers looking to pick up a few bargains. And goods from any store are welcome, not just Ikea.
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The sales will held be at 2 UK Ikea locations – Milton Keynes and Cardiff – but have the potential to be rolled out to other stores next year if they prove successful.
Ikea urges sellers: 'From furniture to decorations and toys, earn some extra money and help keep good things going.'
It also tells potential shoppers to: 'Come grab some bargains Join us for a fun day out at IKEA, and enjoy searching for second hand gems.
'The fun can continue indoors, visit our Swedish restaurant and enjoy tasty affordable meals for the whole family.'
What can I sell?
Sellers can sell items from Ikea, of course, but other brands' items will be accepted too.
And you can sell a range of items from furniture to decorations and toys.
However, certain products won't be allowed. Prohibited products include the following:
- Electrical goods
- Hacked or modified products
- Food items
- Prams and pushchairs
- Paraffin heaters
- Oil heaters
- Firearms or weapons
- Counterfeit goods
- Products or material which could be considered offensive
Everything you need to know
The sales will be taking place at its Milton Keynes and Cardiff stores this Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 12 pm and anyone (provided they are over 18) can apply for a spot.
You can request a free car parking space from the store at Milton Keynes by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org or for Cardiff by emailing CardiffKARBUT@outlook.com.
Make sure you wait to receive a confirmation from Ikea as you won't be able to sell without one.
If neither of these is your local store, don't fret as the brand is considering rolling out the events to other stores across the UK in 2024 if they prove popular.
Ikea already offers a buyback scheme across its stores where the company buys back used furniture, which, again, doesn't have to be from Ikea originally, and will give you vouchers for the store in return to 'refresh your home'.
The website states: 'Every year, millions of pieces of secondhand furniture go to waste. That’s why we’re buying back your used IKEA furniture, to give chairs, shelves or chests of drawers as many lives as possible.'
It went on to explain that people are able to buy your items second-hand giving it a new home.
'It’s one little action that can have a big impact on your wallet and the planet,' the website stated.


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Content Marketing is currently one of the most talked-about topics in the communication industry. But what, exactly, is this supposedly new trend? What is new and which specific game rules apply to Content Marketing for trade fairs and events?
Digitalization is fundamentally changing our working environments as agility is becoming a critical success factor for companies. We have summarized the most famous representative of agile practices, SCRUM.
What marketing trends can be expected in 2017? In a nutshell: Technologies and methods that will usher in the customer era. Here are our top ten:
Artificial intelligence (AI) may sound scary at first. It conjures up images of robots that outpace us intellectually and eventually dominate us. But we actually come into contact with AI on a daily basis. And we are increasingly gaining an appreciation of the convenience it provides. So how can we take advantage of intelligent self-learning systems in marketing?
Predictive analytics promise to help us predict the future – a capability that has always fascinated mankind. In the world of marketing, data analysis that enables forecasts of the future, would be a powerful instrument for using budgets in a targeted way and optimizing the success of campaigns and measures.
Press conferences are among the most important PR tools due to their relevance to the target audience. However, this tool is also being increasingly “digitalized” using modern technologies. Parallel streaming, for example, is being used to enhance or even fully replace press conferences. Where will the journey take us? Continue reading
According to a recent study, 50% of all press releases end up unread in the waste bin. We list 10 elements to consider for a perfect press release.
Ideally you should visualize the journalists you want to reach with your press release and persuade to report on it. Imagine how they sit at their computer receiving emails and trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. Imagine how they try to filter out interesting news for the next edition of their medium, to research additional information for an article and find only the most interesting news for their readers in the most efficient way possible. Continue reading
Thanks to digital transformation, social media, blogs, and mobile marketing are playing an increasingly important role in modern marketing. The new Dexperty study “Digital Business Transformation” highlights what’s currently keeping marketing experts busy and where the trend is headed.
Digital is accounting for an increasing portion of the budget each year: Today up to 20 percent of marketing budgets are used for digital measures in at least 64 percent of those polled, while over 25 percent of the companies even allocate more than 20 percent. The larger the company, the higher the share of digital marketing in the overall budget. In the ITC industry, which is exemplary when it comes to digital marketing, around 30 percent of the budgets were allocated to digital measures in the past year according to a Bitkom study, and thus took second place behind the trade fair / event budgets.
The season which brings the online retail trade the greatest sales has to be well prepared. We’ve compiled a number of items which should already be top of the To Do list.
The Christmas period confronts retailers with major challenges long before it gets going. The aim must be to make thorough preparations in order, on the one hand, to generate the greatest possible sales and, on the other, to respond adequately to the rush of orders.
To cope with the quantities ordered in the Christmas business without sacrificing quality and service, early steps have to be taken to set the correct course in technical, logistical and personnel-related questions. After all, the relevant analyses, the development of new solutions or the incorporation of additional personnel need an adequate run-up period. And there’s no time for this when things get moving. Then smooth technical, organizational and logistical sequences are an absolute must.
Facebook is used by many medium-sized companies for marketing purposes. The desired result is that fans not only look at posts, but also share and/or comment. But what happens if a fan’s contribution is in violation of the law (e.g. an abusive or racist comment)? Can the company be held liable as the manager of the Facebook page?
Find out which contributions are considered external and whether there is an obligation to curate content in this guest article by Nina Mülhens, Public Relations & Social Media Manager at Gelbe Seiten Marketing Gesellschaft and author for Treffer!, the Gelbe Seiten (German Yellow Pages)blog.


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A private equity fund manager sponsored by the Oman Investment Authority and State Bank of India said it has invested Rs 75 crore in Kolkata-based jewellery retailer Senco Gold.
The investment of Rs 75 crore by Oman India Joint Investment Fund I (OlJIF I) will be through equity for a minority stake according to a statement. The funds raised will be utilized to make Senco an omnichannel jewellery brand of the national level, according to a statement.
This is part of Senco Gold's pre-IPO plans, and the company is planning to file its Initial Public Offer documents soon.
Suvankar Sen, MD, and CEO, Senco Gold said, "With the pandemic now receding, Senco is well-positioned for an expansion of its showroom network as well as building its digital presence."


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Aldata Solution Lowers Guidance on Bad Debts, Empty Office Space
Aldata Solution Oyj (ALD1V), the Finnish developer of software for the retail industry, cut its full-year guidance on “bad” debts.
Aldata sees a “significant” operating loss for 2011 due to costs incurred on provisions for “bad and doubtful debts” and empty office space, the Vantaa, Finland-based company said today in a statement. It had previously forecast a loss for the full year.
Aldata climbed 16 percent last year as Palo Alto, California-based Symphony Technology Group LLC, offered to purchase all issued and outstanding shares. Symphony now holds 90 percent of Aldata shares, according to the Finnish company’s website.
The costs come on top of expenses announced earlier. Net sales will fall “somewhat” from last year, Aldata said. The company will publish earnings on Feb. 16.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kasper Viita in Helsinki at firstname.lastname@example.org
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christian Wienberg at email@example.com


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Elofic, which supplies oil, air, hydraulic and fuel filters mainly for the passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers, has celebrated its 70th anniversary. Today, it produces over two lakh filters per day, which it will take to 2.5 lakh per day soon. Along with the planned capacity enhancement, the company will also add more dealers to its network and focus on heavy commercial vehicle segment. Excerpts:
Elofic Industries Limited, one of India’s leading automotive filter manufacturing companies, which began operations in 1951, celebrated its 70th anniversary recently. Starting with a humble production of 100 filters per day, the company has grown massively and now produces around two lakh filters per day through its six state-of-the-art facilities in Faridabad (Haryana), Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh) and Hosur (Tamil Nadu). Elofic is expanding with an increased research investment into creating filters for electric vehicles (EVs).
“I would not say this as a journey, but an evolution. Over the past 70 years, we have witnessed several milestones throughout evolution. But the factors which are most important to us are the values – perseverance, hard work, integrity and being futuristic – that our founder laid down. The right technology, the right machines, the right processes and the right workforce have always been our main priority areas. This is what led to us being the leader in the business,” M B Sahni, Chairman cum Managing Director, Elofic Industries, told Motoring Trends.
To cater to the growing demand, the company will deploy an additional line at its Hosur plant which will take filter production capacity to 2.5 lakh per day. With this expansion complete, the company plans to achieve total revenue of INR six billion by 2025- 2026. In FY21 the company had revenue of around INR 2.85 billion.
The Faridabad-based company supplies oil, air, hydraulic and fuel filters mainly for the passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers, with six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Faridabad (Haryana), Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh) and Hosur (Tamil Nadu) in India.
Founded by Late Mohinder Singh Sahni in 1951, Elofic Industries had a humble start with just 10 employees producing 100 filters per day that the founder sold on his bicycle. The company achieved its first big break in 1974 when it onboarded Hindustan Motors as its first OEM supplier. Then in 1984, Maruti selected Elofic as its designated filter supplier; since then the company has added more than 36 OEMs and is still growing strong. In 1980, the company started its first export business with filter export to Egypt and today is a major exporter to the Europe and the US. Along the way, the company has received various quality assurance certifications including IS 9002 certification in 1995 and ISO/TS: 16949-2002 certification in 2007. The company has a wide presence in the aftermarket sector with seven warehouses and more than 1,000 distributor network spread across the country and abroad.
On the continuous growth and success of the company, M B Sahni added, “We manufacture around 500 filters per minute. We never compromise on the quality of our products as we shop around the world to procure the best possible equipment and materials.”
During its journey, the company has received numerous awards for its achievements in the field of filter manufacturing. The most recent include Maruti Suzuki award for comprehensive excellence, award for innovative healthcare product and Royal Enfield award for supply chain partnership in 2018; best research and development award from Transformance Forums, Hitachi Astemo (formerly Keihin) business partner award, award by Kawasaki engines USA, and manufacturing excellence award from ACMA in 2019 and excellence in new product design and development from ACMA in 2021.
Explaining the effect of the pandemic on the business, K D Sahni, Vice Chairman cum Joint Managing Director, Elofic Industries, said “Despite slowdown in the market due to the nationwide lockdown, we still managed to record over 20 percent growth in FY21 over the previous year. The company made positive strides in all three fronts, i.e., domestic OEMs, Export OEMs and aftermarket. One has to work little harder when the things are better.”
The company adopted many employee welfare initiatives to maintain the morale during the lockdown, helping improve communication and productivity. Some of the initiatives include a virtual meeting every morning with the heads of departments to review the overall situation. These virtual meetings helped the company to stay in touch with all employees, distributors, OEMs and customers, helping the company not only recover the lost sales but also grow stronger through the tough times.
To cope with the current Covid-19 protocols, the company has redefined SOPs and reengineered certain manufacturing processes at its manufacturing plants. The company has also cut down the excess flab to keep costs in check as it’s an important area for frugal manufacturing. Along with this, the company has also started work on industry 4.0 and digitisation. “We are investing in it and the results may be seen in the next one year or 18 months, ” added K D Sahni. Elofic’s manufacturing plants are currently working at 80 percent capacity maintaining the social distancing protocols put in place by the government.
Talking about the evolution of the automotive filter technology, Sahni explained that over the past few years, the evolution is driven by the OEM needs and the stringent norms in respective markets. The key focus areas in both the domestic and international market are efficiency and longevity as OEMs want filters that help improve the efficiency of the engine while having a long life to help with the overall cost of ownership. He also mentioned that there is a sudden rise in demand for cabin air filters with anti-virus media due to the pandemic.
According to Sahni, the pie concerning oil, air and fuel filter in an IC engine vehicle will always remain a constant and product design and development will be driven by the OEMs’ requirements and regulations. With the introduction of BSVI in India, OEMs expected high performance filters that have higher dust storing capacity and higher synthetic blends, which Elofic delivers to help increase the efficiency of the vehicle.
Research and development at Elofic keeps evolving to design and develop filters to meet the market demand. The company has currently applied for 30 patents of which 11 have been granted. The company believes that clean air technology will be in high demand in the future and has already started work in this regard with the recent launch of the clean air tower.
Talking about the company’s export strategy, K D Sahni said, “Our strategy to focus on both domestic and export markets equally helps offset the risk of dependency on one market.” Despite the pandemic, Elofic saw an increase in demand from the export market that now constitutes more than 30 percent of the total revenue of the company. The company majorly caters to OEM players in export markets – Europe and the US.
Elofic ventured into lubricants business in 2008 and since then has been catering to the aftermarket demands of distributors.
When we asked Sahni about the challenges in the aftermarket business, he explained that the Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to e-distributors providing solutions to workshops and mechanics who have now replaced the big markets. This rise in workshop providers has moved the demand from urban cities to suburban cities. Elofic has recently added 80 plus partners to its network to help with the demand from suburban cities in FY21. The rise of this new trend has helped organise and capture the aftermarket sales for the company. “We are looking at something around 120 new networks from suburban cities or from the segments which are in focus,” said M B Sahni.
Currently, the Indian aftermarket is worth around INR 170 billion, 15 percent of which is the filter market. Fifty-five percent of the filter market is controlled by organised players while the unorganised sector controls the rest of the market. Elofic has a 20 percent market share in the organised filter business sector.
Explaining the challenges from the unorganised players, Sahni said that due to the restriction on import from China, the number of small players has reduced. He added that the percentage of unbranded products on sale in the market has come down during the pandemic, reducing the threat from unorganised players in the aftermarket business.
Talking about the challenges in the business, Sahni said that while the company has seen success in the SUVs, MUVs and tractor segments, it has struggled in the heavy commercial vehicle segment. Currently, Elofic is focusing on the heavy commercial vehicle segment to devise a new strategy to collect the market share in the future. The company is also targeting the industrial segment for its filter business in future.
Talking about the introduction of EVs in the Indian market, K D Sahni said, “We have been following the developments in the EV field and believe that the infrastructure required to make EVs mainstream in India is more than 20 years away. So, we feel IC engines will still hold the majority market share in the coming years.” M D Sahni also believes that the heavy commercial vehicle segment will not be electrified anytime soon and hence the company will have a better chance to capture market share in that segment.
He also explained that irrespective of the powertrain used, there will be a need for filters in the vehicle. He expects that the demand for air filters and cabin filters will increase with the rise in EVs. At the moment, Elofic supplies filters to two major players in the EV segment. (MT)
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Consider this a big Pinterest fail: Orthodontists are warning patients not to take teeth straightening into their own hands after a string of YouTube videos appeared showing ways to use hair elastics to close gaps between teeth. The pros are concerned about tooth damage or even loss, which can happen if the elastics get embedded in the gums. Yikes!
Also a worry: New mail-order businesses, which send you a kit to do DIY teeth impressions, then make molds of your kids’ teeth for you. And that’s all without a single visit to a dentist or orthodontist. “Our concern is that patients who don’t see an orthodontist for regular checkups are more likely to be harmed,” says Dr. Rolf Behrents, a spokesperson for the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Without a thorough in-person exam, he explains, these companies may miss an important underlying problem.
The AAO recommends scheduling your kid’s first visit to the orthodontist no later than age 7 so any issues can be caught early.


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HOUSTON (KTRK) --Houston police say they need your help finding a person of interest wanted for questioning in a child indecency case.
Newly-released surveillance photos show a man pushing a baby stroller on May 13 at a store on FM 1960 West near Cutten Road.
Police say the man was at the store the same time a 9-year-old boy became the victim of a predator.
More than five weeks later and police have not been able to make an arrest.
The boy was allegedly in the men's room when an unknown man entered his stall and then touched the victim inappropriately. The boy reportedly ran out of the restroom and hid under a water fountain as his mother was inside the women's restroom.
A spokesperson for Target says they are actively working with law enforcement telling us, "At Target our guests are at the center of everything we do and our commitment to creating a safe and secure shopping environment in our stores is unwavering."
The person of interest is described as a white or Hispanic male, about 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, and with a medium build. He was last seen wearing glasses.
If you have any information on this case, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Your tips will remain anonymous.


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Importers and manufacturers are currently groaning under the current congestion at the Lagos seaports with millions of cargoes currently trapped.
The importers and clearing agents in a chat with The Guardian urged the Federal Government to urgently find a solution to the intractable traffic along the corridor, which has crippled port activities.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed plans to deploy 200 new security officers to the ports to clear the gridlock.
Media Assistant to the Minister, Mrs Taiye Eleibo-Edeni, said there would be a steering committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, to seat monthly until the challenges are overcome. Other members of the committee would be drawn from NPA, NSC, maritime workers, safety organisations and the Lagos State Government.
In a statement, she said Amaechi had directed the committee to write to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to assign more officers for the assignment.
As the crisis at the port continues, a managing director of a beverage company told journalists that his company has run out of the substrate used in bottling one of its soft drinks
“We exhausted our stock and the container loads we imported arrived more than six weeks ago but have not been able to leave the port,” the managing director, who does not want to be identified, said.
Also, some traders who imported goods to sell during yuletide have had their cargoes trapped in the ports as the gridlock continues. They stand the risk of losing millions of naira if they are unable to sell the goods before Christmas, the traders said.
President, the Shippers Association of Lagos, Jonathan Nicol, also lamented about the situation, saying their businesses are in limbo due to the lingering challenge.
He appealed to the Federal Government to fix the roads and save the importers from frequent extortion by government agencies at the ports.


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H&M Leaves $4.3 Billion In Unsold Inventory On The Racks
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
H&M was the clothing chain that came to define the very idea of fast fashion, but it looks like they got a little ahead of themselves. The retailer is now sitting on a giant pile of inventory - more than $4 billion worth of dresses, shirts and pants and not enough buyers. H&M notes this huge buildup in its new quarterly report that came out yesterday.
New York Times fashion writer Elizabeth Paton has read it and has been tracking H&M's problems over the last few years. She joins us now on Skype from London. Welcome to the program.
ELIZABETH PATON: Thank you very much for having me.
CORNISH: So $4.3 billion worth of unsold stuff - what does this look like?
PATON: It's a great question. I mean, of course, this is not sitting in some giant single location. This is spread across thousands of warehouses and stores across the world. But to try and imagine what $4.3 billion worth of clothes look like, it's a staggering amount of inventory.
CORNISH: So is this an H&M problem or a fast fashion problem? Like, is it affecting other retailers?
PATON: So the H&M problem, in some way, is unique because it is the way that it has been run. Its problems first started emerging last year when it saw the first sales decline in two decades. And initially, you know, that wasn't that big a deal. But because of the perfect storm that we're seeing emerging, particularly for bricks-and-mortar retailers as more and more people shop online or from their smartphones and competition in this space gets far more fierce, matching sales with inventory is very, very important, and it's something that soon spiraled out of control.
But then at a broad level, yes. This is not just an H&M problem. This is also a fast fashion problem because I think people are thinking more now than ever about the kind of quality that they want to buy, the styles they want to buy. And H&M has fallen out of fashion.
CORNISH: I was reading that their website is not so great.
CORNISH: And have they just fallen behind in the online sales market space?
PATON: I think the big issue for bricks-and-mortar retailers at the moment is how quickly they can ramp up their online operations. H&M just hasn't been so far. They said yesterday that they wanted to try and boost their online sales by 25 percent this year. Whether they'll actually be able to do that is another matter because I think the pressing matter is how are they going to get rid of $4.3 billion worth of stock?
CORNISH: What are their ideas so far?
PATON: Well, there's a couple of things. I mean, the first thing that they're going to have to do, which obviously is not going to please their investors, is they're going to have to discount. They're going to have to slash prices on some of the stock that customers have already turned their noses up at. Another thing that they're going to do is they're going to shut unperforming stores in Western markets like U.S. and Europe.
CORNISH: The wackiest thing we've heard is that they'd burn it.
PATON: Yes. I mean, it's very difficult to quantify just how much unsold stock there is at the moment sitting on H&M's books, but to give you an indication of how much, you know, there is currently a power station in Sweden, which is burning stock that H&M can't sell in place of coal or oil in order to create energy and supply the surrounding area.
You know, H&M, ever since the Rana Plaza tragedy which happened in Bangladesh in 2013 - a factory collapsed, killing over a thousand workers, and H&M was one of the Western retailers that was manufacturing in there. H&M has become much more focused on being transparent about its supply chain and how it can be more sustainable as a business.
It's almost impossible, of course, to be sustainable as a business when you're producing hundreds of millions of items of low-cost clothing a year, but how you get rid of $4.3 billion worth of stock is a question that no one has a good answer to at the moment.
CORNISH: New York Times fashion writer Elizabeth Paton - thank you so much for explaining it to us.
PATON: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF BRAINWALTZERA'S "10 MUDDY PUDDLE TROT")
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


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With that in mind, we're thrilled to welcome the design goddess to our social obsession. She's sharing her own pics through a fun collection of boards that allow us to really explore her Uni-wearste (sorry, couldn't help it).
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It's an unusual suicide note: calm, eloquent, reasoned. It's nearly 1,700 words long and was published online hours before the writer took her own life. What's more, the writer's husband spoke out — to the press, no less — about why he wanted as many people as possible to read the letter. He was a supportive witness read
Until now, online shoppers have had to defer to department stores like JCPenney for their Joe Fresh fix. Or, physically go to one of its brick-and-mortar stores to test out the wares. But, that's all about to change now that the Canadian fast-fashion source launched e-commerce on its website this week. Though Joe Fresh read


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A new brand ambassador for MS?
A new "brand ambassador" for MS?
Microsoft suddenly wants to make the people of Kerala "e-literate" - and if this report is true, we will soon be hearing about the virtues of MS software from our own dear Mammootty! Hope he reads this letter and decides to say "NO" to Bill.G, just like he said NO to coca-cola.
Sun May 11 17:03:53 2008
enthokke kaanan kidakkunnu ente dheyvame!!!!!!!


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iRacing.com, the world’s leading online motorsports simulation service, yesterday announced plans to add the 2016 Audi R8 LMS to its lineup of digital race cars. Audi thus joins a host of world class automotive manufacturers represented on iRacing, with the R8 LMS slated to compete with the BMW Z4, Ford GT, McLaren MP4 12c, the soon-to-be-released Mercedes-AMG GT3 and other state-of-the-art GT3 cars in iRacing’s Blancpain series.
The announcement was made by Steve Myers, iRacing.com Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, at the Nürburgring prior to this weekend’s iRacing.com GT500, the final round of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series.
“We’re proud to welcome Audi to iRacing and, along with iRacers all around the world, we look forward to racing the virtual R8 LMS,” said Myers. “The GT3 class features some of the most fiercely contested racing in all of virtual and real world motorsports. I’m sure iRacing’s R8 will prove to be every bit as formidable as its real world counterpart in the Blancpain Endurance and Sprint Series.”
“Audi is excited to support iRacing in building a digital version of our R8 LMS,” said Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “iRacing has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most authentic motorsports simulations service, and we are delighted to know iRacers everywhere will be able to enjoy the challenge and excitement of driving the Audi R8 LMS in online competition.”
2014 Blancpain Endurance and GT Series champion Laurens Vanthoor who, together with Belgian Audi Club teammate Robin Frijs, is seeking to clinch the 2015 Blancpain Series title this weekend, echoes those thoughts.
“I’m thrilled that iRacing will be adding the new Audi R8 LMS to its lineup,” said Vanthoor, who uses iRacing as part of his training regimen and will lend his expertise to the development of the virtual Audi. “I have my choice of simulation programs, but I find myself using iRacing 99% of the time. Their laser-scanned track surfaces are very accurate and all the landmarks and reference points are there as well. I’m sure iRacing will build the Audi R8 LMS with the same attention to detail. I helped in the development of the new R8 and so it will be interesting to have influenced the real and the digital version of the same car.”
The Audi R8 LMS will join a growing catalogue of world class sports cars available on iRacing, along with digital versions of every car/truck in the top tier NASCAR series as well as Formula One, Indy, short track and showroom stock cars raced by iRacers on laser-scanned version of more than 75 of the world’s most legendary ovals and road courses.


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The annual Comptex show in Taipei wound up last week, giving us a look at the next wave of laptops, all-in-ones, convertibles and everything in-between. We were out in force at Computex 2015 to bring you all the laptop and gadget news! This is everything you missed in one place. These are your next computers.
Acer is one of the first out of the gate, with a bunch of tech on show at the Computex 2015 expo starting today in Taiwan — and some of it looks pretty cool. Hurry up and bring it to Australia, guys.
It’s that time of year again, folks! The Computex show is on again, and ASUS is first out of the blocks with its press conference. Get in here and follow it all as it happens!
Gigabyte has an entirely refreshed range of Ultraforce gaming laptops at Computex 2015. The new laptops aren’t quite as out there in their designs as Gigabyte’s sister brand AORUS — in fact, they’re positively mainstream — but the hardware inside is anything but boring.
Aorus has always built the Lamborghini Aventador of laptops. Its X-Series notebooks are packed to the brim with bleeding edge hardware, but are somehow ridiculously thin at the same time. At Computex 2015, the company has shown off a new X5 and X7 Pro for you to lust over, and both have dual-linked graphics cards that make them probably the most powerful laptops you can buy today.
If you build your own PCs, you’ve probably considered parts from Corsair. They sell well-liked memory, cases, power supplies, coolers, SSDs, even peripherals these days. Now they’re introducing their own do-it-yourself living room gaming PC. And gosh is it big and ugly!
It’s official. July 29 is the date that everyone can get Windows 10 for their PC — if they want it, that is — whether that’s as a brand new operating system, or as a completely free upgrade from Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1.
If you’ve always been disappointed by the simple way the Asus Transformer changes shape, prepare to finally be impressed. This Asus gaming PC tower flexes and folds more like Optimus Prime than any two-in-one tablet ever could.
What if that phone charger you casually toss into your bag everyday was more than just a power adaptor? What if was secretly a fully fledged Windows PC? Well, then you’d have the Quanta Compute Plug.
Cramming a full Windows PC inside of a cheap, $150 HDMI dongle sounds like a great idea — but Intel’s first attempt really fell flat. The Intel Compute Stick was underpowered, frustrating, and failed to live up to the hype. It wasn’t good enough to be a do-everything PC that fits in your pocket. No sweat: a leaked Intel roadmap shows how it’s going to get a lot better.
Intel’s Broadwell 5th Generation Core processors have only been around for a few months, but the chip maker is already souping them up. New 5th Generation Core processors with improved Iris graphics and speed.
We don’t all buy ridiculously powerful notebooks. Gaming PCs, sure, but not notebooks. Normal laptops — y’know, the ones you can buy in Harvey Norman and your local computer store, the ones that cost a thousand dollars and not five thousand — are far more common, but we don’t give them as much love as we should.
AMD has just taken the covers off its latest high-performance notebook APU, called Carrizo, and the under-the-hood improvements are genuinely amazing. Say hello to double the battery life of last year’s laptops, as well as almost double the computing power.
AMD has a new top-end APU — that’s accelerated processing unit, if you didn’t know, combining a high performance CPU with a high performance integrated graphics chipset — in the A10-7870K. Built to go inside your next mainstream desktop PC purchase, it’s just as small as any other CPU, but has some serious graphics grunt under the hood — more than enough to beat a mainstream Intel chip and standalone graphics card.
If you don’t have the cash to splash on Nvidia’s eyeball-melting Titan X, then this is the GTX 980 Ti — the next GeForce flagship, designed for smooth frame rates at 1080p, 1440p and even 4K gaming of brand new AAA titles like The Witcher 3, GTA V and Project CARS. It’s the newest and most powerful 9-series graphics card from Nvidia, and overtakes even the regular GTX 980 by a fair margin.
Intel’s 3D camera division has been radio silent for a few months now. We were starting to get worried we wouldn’t get the smarter, depth-sensing laptops and all-in-ones we were promised. But today we saw life! Today I got hands-on with the new RealSense cameras that will help your laptop see you better than ever before.
It’s happening: Intel has ditched its proprietary connector for the super-fast Thunderbolt standard and adopted USB Type-C connectors to supercharge the reversible cable.
PC gaming is enjoying a renaissance, with new massively powerful graphics cards and CPUs coming out, the imminent arrival of Windows 10, and a ceaseless stream of high-profile blockbuster game releases. What all that means is that enthusiasts are tinkering with their home-made PCs more than ever. Here are some of the most bonkers custom cases on show at Computex this year.
Wireless charging is still a bit of a hassle. You have to have the right charging plates for your phone and make sure you’re matching the same standards between devices. Intel showed off a proof of concept that allows you to place a phone anywhere on your wooden desk and charge your gadgets, and it wants to bring it to market in the next 12 months.
Having super-fast, 802.11ac is great for high-speed file transfers — we know this much from testing the Linksys WRT1900AC, the Netgear Nighthawk X6 and D-Link’s crazy DIR-890L. The brand new Linksys EA8500, though, one-ups all of those by being super-fast for multiple devices at once using a new technology called MU-MIMO beamforming.
If you’re an avid gamer, choosing a comfortable and versatile mouse is one of the most important things you can do; along with a keyboard and mouse and audio, a mouse is one of your primary points of input to a PC. Getting the right mouse design is tricky, though, and Roccat’s minutely customisable Nyth should go a long way to helping that — especially if you’re a fan of MMOs or MOBA.
Inside my mind I am completely lost. A few minutes ago, I was standing in front of a booth in front of a gadget that I just could not identify. I don’t know what it is or what it does, but I think I need to own it.
When Asus announced its new ZenPad at Computex, it slipped a little gadget into the accessories section that we think needs a lot more attention. It’s called the Audio Cover, and it’s an awesome idea.
Again. The PC case has been reinvented again. Antec has unveiled the S10, the first in an ongoing series of Signature high-end cases, all with the three highest heat output components — power supply, hard drives, and motherboard — separated into different chambers and unique thermal zones. The idea is for you to build the most powerful PC you can, without the annoying hurdle of actually cooling it.
At Computex 2015 in Taipei, there are a lot of networking devices. Everybody is talking the Internet Of Things, and there’s dozens (probably hundreds) of different Wi-Fi routers and modems and access points. There’s also a lot of smartphones and tablets and little touchscreen gadgets. But why, why, do you have to have your smartphone and your Wi-Fi router? Why do they have to be so… separate? ¿Porque no los dos?
Asus has announced a new ZenPad tablet that allows you to swap its back panel. But unlike phones of yesteryear, these changes add new features — like extended battery life or a more powerful set of speakers.
Asus has announced a new version of its smartwatch, the ZenWatch 2. Unlike the old version it comes in two sizes, like the Apple Watch, and features a digital crown… rather like the Apple Watch.
Around The Show
The first thing you need to know about Taipei is that it’s hot. Well, more humid, really. The second thing you need to know is that if you don’t have a scooter, you’re a nobody. That’s why all the hype in Taipei right now is around a scooter company called Gogoro and its first pilot store in the city centre: it’s cool as ice, and riding around on one is like putting a Tesla between your legs.
I’m always paranoid about battery life. When I get down to 60 per cent battery on my smartphone I start to think of plugging my devices in. To help me get over my battery paranoia, and as a fun little experiment, I decided to live this week at Computex 2015 like I’d forgotten my Apple Watch charger. Here’s how you get four days out of Apple’s wearable instead of just one.
As Microsoft and Sony duke it out for home gaming supremacy, the self-styled “PC master race” happily sits back and watches the chaos, satisfied at their customisable builds, superior hardware and better graphics. Nvidia, a key benefactor of the PC master race has tipped Android to surpass the PC’s popularity in future.
I’m in Taipei this week to cover the annual Computex convention, and like an idiot, I brought my smartphone thinking I could get a good deal on roaming through my carrier. As it turns out, I can’t. Somehow after Aussie telcos spent a year of trying to fix it, international roaming is still stupidly broken.


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Technically Disney, the streaming war, has already won it. But only if you arm yourself with a calculator and add up the subscribers of all three of its platforms.
Technically Disney , the streaming war, has already won it. The total number of subscribers to the company’s streaming services was recently disclosed : from Disney + to Hulu, passing through the platform dedicated to ESPN sports.
Today Netflix can boast over 220.67 million subscribers. It is still an unbeaten number, considering that, in fact, these are subscribers to a single on-demand streaming service. Disney + has been around for fewer years, but it has already exceeded the 150 million subscriber ceiling – it will be necessary to assess what the effects of the recently announced price increase will be.
ESPN + , a platform with a huge catalog of sporting events, documentaries and interviews ranging from baseball to football, has around 22.8 million subscribers. It is worth noting that ESPN + is available exclusively in North America and there are no plans to export the service to Europe as well – where Disney would run into a chaotic maze of licensing and sports rights held by a plurality of different companies.
Hulu , which is part of the Disney empire following the acquisition of Warner Bros, not only has 46.2 million subscribers but is also the only one of the three services to generate profits, while the others are currently still at a loss. Hulu is also not available worldwide, but exclusively in a selection of countries.
In short, mathematics admits no objections: Disney beats Netflix, but as long as you arm yourself with a calculator. For the moment, the gap between Disney + and the Red Hasting platform still remains quite important.


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Lyft, a ride-sharing service, expanded its offer to 24 more mid-size cities on Thursday.
People living in the newest cities in Lyft’s expansion will be able to get rides for free for the first two weeks. Cities added the the ride-sharing service’s territory include Albuquerque, Kansas City, Memphis, Oklahoma City and more. This expansion puts the service’s total number of cities to 60, reports The Los Angeles Times.
Lyft now offers its services in more U.S. cities than what its rival Uber does. However, Uber serves more cities across the world than its rival ride-sharing service. This may not be the case in the next few months as Lyft plans to increase its offerings to international areas, NBC News notes.
Lyft has also reduced its prices in all areas by 10%. The company plans to give drivers extra bonuses to compensate for the price drop and says that it won’t be permanent, reports L.A. Times.
Follow the link to see if Lyft is available in your city.


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Near 30 years ago Kali Ilunga’s Ghanaian mother sent a telegram to his Congolese father to say he had just been born and they would be arriving in the Congo in three days. But when they arrived at the airport his father was nowhere in sight – because the telegram actually arrived three months later.
Today mobile messages can be sent instantly over WhatsApp, accompanied by two blue ticks to indicate that it has been both delivered and read by the end recipient.
“And instead of US$40, it costs nothing. And instead of having to go from Ghana to Ivory Coast to Congo because it’s French, it can go from device to device. That is incredible,” notes Ilunga.
Speaking at a TEDxGaborone conference towards the end of last year, he highlighted how “disruptive” innovation has the means to improve lives of ordinary people, especially in the African context where challenges are typically heightened.
Ilunga is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker with a couple of businesses under his belt. Today he is the founder of SeeSayDo, a mobile platform that measures and rewards the attention employees and customers pay to communications. He also runs a digital solutions agency that helps big brands develop relationships with consumers in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya.
One of his first businesses was a platform that taught users how to drive via their mobile phone. The idea came to him after failing his own driver’s test four times and realising there were many others in the same position.
“It turns out 1.95 million people at any given time in South Africa will be [registered for their] learner’s and driver’s. And there is about a 50% failure rate.”
His idea later evolved into a mobile phone platform that provides young consumers with a variety of educational content – from personal fitness training to studying for Matric to branded content that deals with social issues.
What it means to be disruptive in Africa?
“Disruption, in short, creates a product that addresses a market that previously couldn’t be served,” highlighted Ilunga.
“The thing about disruption that is key, particularly to us as Africans, is to realise that every time disruption happens the incumbents, the established businesses, don’t know what to do… [They] cannot compete.”
However, he noted this can also have a negative impact in Africa.
“We live on a continent where we are dependent on our incumbents, whether it’s mining, transportation or housing. You can pick an industry and [find] we have parastatals and monopolies that we are dependent on to create the jobs and growth that feed our dads, moms and siblings. It’s cool to say that disruption kills the incumbents, but what does this mean for our families on a continent where the ‘dark side’ of disruption will hurt more than anywhere else?”
For example, Uber’s technology might hurt the average taxi driver’s business – but a taxi driver in New York is more likely to have access to another job than in Nairobi, where unemployment is much higher. “Disruption is scary in an African context,” he noted.
So how should innovators pick ideas that matter for Africa? According to Ilunga they should be based on empathy and consideration towards the needs and lifestyle of those who need change most. For example, while there are many great apps out there, what use do they have if many do not have enough airtime or data to utilise them?
“The problem with outsourcing our innovation is that we are dealing with people who don’t recognise our restraints. Western innovators don’t get our restraints.”
Ilunga advises Africans to develop ideas that are empathetic and impact the majority. “Look at the problems we actually have and look intently at solving them – problems that are beyond the college boy’s desire to fix a photo with a cool filter, but actually meet the needs of people.”
He added that aspiring innovators should also practise coming up with ideas. Instead of developing three ideas, as business schools have often encouraged in the past, they should develop 1,500 “because the best of 1,500 ideas is more likely to be better than the best of three ideas”.
“Make ideation a priority. Make it [part of] your schedule, reflect it in your budget and reflect it in your thinking. You need to ideate on purpose and you need to start now,” he emphasised.
“And lots of those will be failures but some of those ideas will hone your ideation skills.”


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Magic 105.4 to launch first new TV ad since 2009
Magic 105.4, Bauer Media's London station, is launching its first new TV ad since 2009 in a bid to build on its position as the biggest radio station in the capital.
The 30-second TV spot was created by Red Bee Media and shows the effect music has had on the life of a 30-something woman, from dancing in her bedroom in the 1980s, through to a beach trip with her husband and friends today.
The film aims to reflect the station’s mission to brighten up the lives of its listeners, and its soundtrack includes Magic classics such as ‘Freedom’ by Wham, Shania Twain's ‘You’re Still The One’ and ‘Valerie’, by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson.
The TV campaign was planned and bought by Starcom and will include airtime on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and TV channels owned by Bauer’s joint-venture Box TV channels, including 4Music, heat, and Magic.
Adam Butcher at Red Bee Media directed the spot. The creative head was Rachel King and the creative was Matt McDermott.
Steve Parkinson, managing director, Bauer Radio London, said: "This campaign showcases all that’s brilliant about Magic 105.4 and this significant investment in brand marketing will help maintain its position as London’s favourite commercial radio station."
The campaign starts on Monday (18 February) and the TV spot will be available on Magic’s website from them. It cannot be published online in advance due to licensing regulations.
Campaign revealed Bauer Media had appointed Red Bee Media to create the campaign last month.
According to the Rajar figures for Q4 2012, Magic has a weekly reach of 2.03 million listeners and represents a 5.9% share of the market, both the largest of any commercial station in London.
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
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It seems like Flipkart and Amazon squeezed the most out of the month-long festive season in India as they have minted close to $7.3 billion in combined sales!
E-commerce received a massive influx of new online shoppers as offline retail is still struggling from the pandemic induced slowdown. Thus, Walmart-backed Flipkart Group and Amazon were able to take home bigger GMVs aka gross merchandise value in the holiday season.
According to a report released by RedSeer Consulting on Thursday, the two e-commerce majors in India together dominated 88% of the overall online industry sales of $8.3 billion starting from mid-October to mid-November.
Within their combined humongous share of the total online sales, a 58% was attributed to the Flipkart Group (including Myntra), while its rival Amazon India accounted for 30% share in the festival sales.
Flipkart was able to cover more ground than Amazon is because they have always had a very strong foothold in Tier 2 cities of India whereas Amazon has always been focusing mainly on the metros.
Pandemic Effect: Influx Of First Time Online Shoppers
The report also highlighted that online retailers in India attracted numerous first time online purchasers from remote or rural parts of India. All thanks to the pandemic leading to a sharp decline in footfalls in physical stores.
Commenting about the same, the online marketplace Snapdeal reported that four out of every ten orders that were placed on their platform during the festive sale came from first-time users, while more than 90% of their total orders during the festive season seemed to be originating from non-metro cities.
According to the data collected by the market tracker firm, even though the gross merchandise value per customer dropped by 10% to Rs. 6,600 when compared to the same period in 2019, the loss was offset by whopping 40 million new users happened to shop online this year.
Mrigank Gutgutia who helms the position of a Director at RedSeer, in a statement about the same, said that the even though COVID-19, being a major driving force, increased the number of new customers shopping online, it also led to driving down the per-person value as most shoppers were looking for affordable and value-conscious pricing options.
Lastly, while it is true that this festive season was a big sign of revival for Indian online retailers, they, however, are sceptical if the same traction will remain in the next quarter without the festivities and discontinued discounts and offers.
To throw light on the same, an executive from a consumer electronic brand said that the drop in online sales could very well be significant and one can expect to observe at least 40% or more loss in traction in the discretionary categories.
He further added that, nonetheless, the situation will remain much better than offline as it is moving at a snail’s pace due to the lockdown after-effects.
When reached out for a comment on this report, Flipkart denied commenting whereas an Amazon representative said that they cannot confirm nor deny the findings of a speculative report. We will keep you updated on all future developments. Until then, stay tuned.


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News about Barron's.
May 25th, 2016
Apple Pay will experience greater success than Android Pay and will “grow exceptionally based on a belief that Apple Pay using a Secure Enclave/secure element inside of iOS has an advantage over Android Pay’s host card emulation (HCE) in that it’s more secure, with a similar user experience,” according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. “We believe that Apple Pay will offer the most seamless payment experience on iOS regardless of whether its in-app, in-browser or in-store,” Barron’s reports Munster as saying.
March 4th, 2016
Nearly half of US point of sale merchants (44%) are using or have requested information about mobile wallet solutions and 67% of those wanted Apple Pay, an investor note by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster reported by Barron’s reveals. “That figure dwarfs the 18% that requested Android Pay/Google Wallet, 8% for PayPal and 7% for Samsung Pay,” the report adds.


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By Monica Mendoza – Reporter, Denver Business Journal, Oct 31, 2017, 6:30am MST
Denver Business Journal Article
Two years ago, the Colorado Crowdfunding Act was rolled out with high hopes.
Its backers promised it would make investing more accessible to the average person who wanted a piece of the equity pie and it would help small businesses and startups raise the capital that had often eluded them.
But after all the buzz and they hype, there was silence.
“It was all quiet on the crowdfunding front,” said Gerald Rome, Colorado's securities commissioner.
Rome convened a panel of equity crowdfunding experts Oct. 25 at the University of Colorado Denver Business School to discuss why equity crowdfunding -- the kind in which an investor gets a stake in a company -- has been so slow to takeoff.
So far there has only been one equity crowdfunding campaign launched -- Paradox Ventures Inc., a Colorado hemp and extracting oil company which is trying to raise $250,000 to expand its business.
Karl Dakin, a lawyer and small business advocate, says the law was not a flop and he still believes equity crowdfunding has a place in raising money for small businesses and startups.
"We think the hard part is behind us," Dakin said. "Right now I see it all going forward."
Dakin is behind one of the approved equity crowdfunding sites, Invest Local, which featured the first fundraising campaign.
The biggest issue is that it took two years to get an operational website where equity crowdfunding offerings could be made, he said. The sites, called intermediaries, are listed on the Colorado Division of Securities website. They ensure that the businesses meet the disclosure rules and that the investors are from Colorado.
As of late October, there are now two websites up and running -- Invest Local and CFEX Holdings.
The sites had to be built from scratch and it took time, said Dakin, principal in Dakin Capital Services LLC, which plans and manages capital campaigns.
“But now that the site is open, we don’t see serious obstacles to expanding this rapidly and making this available as a common service to small businesses in Colorado,” Dakin said.
The challenge now will be getting the word out that equity crowdfunding is as a way to raise money for a new business or expansion of an existing business.
“The thing that will sell it is a successful raise,” Dakin said.
In 2015, Colorado became the 24th state to enact a law that allows non-accredited investors to make small equity investments in a privately held business in the state over the internet.
A Colorado business can now raise a maximum of $1 million from equity crowdfunding, and up to $2 million if the business submits audited financial statements to the state’s Division of Securities.
Before equity crowdfunding, investors had to be accredited – which means they have an annual income of $200,000 and a net worth that exceeds $1 million. Dakin said it limited who could invest. Under equity crowdfunding, anyone can invest up to $5,000 in a business.
Roughly around the same time Colorado was setting up its rules for equity crowdfunding, the rules for the federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act were approved. The law was signed by President Barack Obama in 2012.
But the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was slow to write the rules under the new law; those rules were finalized in May 2016.
It was a shift from existing non-equity crowdfunding models like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, where someone with an idea asks for money via an online pitch, but instead of equity, gives out perks like T-shirts or first dibs on a product.
Under the JOBS Act, investors don’t have to be accredited, and entrepreneurs could use the internet to pitch their ideas.
Obama called the JOBS Act a “game changer,” saying that average Americans could invest in the businesses they believed in.
But even at the federal level, equity crowdfunding has been slow to take off. Critics say supporters overestimated the enthusiasm for equity crowdfunding.
CU Boulder law professor Andrew Schwartz recently went to New Zealand, as a Fulbright research scholar, to study its equity crowdfunding laws, which have been operational for three years.
New Zealand has had successes, he said. There, businesses can raise up to $2 million in a 12-month period using equity crowdfunding. He saw some stark differences in the rules between New Zealand and Colorado, which have comparable economies.
“In Colorado, an issuer who wants to raise money must file certain forms with certain disclosures with the Division of Securities and provide it to investors and provide a quarterly report also to SEC and investors,” he said. “New Zealand has no mandatory disclosures. There is no form to file.”
In the first year of equity crowdfunding, New Zealand businesses raised 30 times as much as U.S companies and had 13 times as many offerings, when scaling for the two nations' sizes, Schwartz said. The raises were successful about 80 percent of the time compared to 50 percent of the time in the U.S.
But Rome is a little squeamish about running an equity crowdfunding program – selling a security -- with no disclosure required. And no one in Colorado seems to be advocating for tossing out the disclosure requirements.
“I like laissez faire, but I also like for people to get into things with their eyes open and having an opportunity to evaluate all the facts,” said Jack Donenfeld, a Boulder-based securities lawyer and general counsel to Boomtown Accelerator in Boulder, which focuses on internet, mobile and software firms.
Attorney Herrick Lidstone, managing director of Greenwood Village law firm Burns, Figa & Will, has an alternative idea.
Businesses looking to raise small amounts – less than $200,000 – shouldn’t be mandated to use the intermediary. It should be voluntary, he said. It could cost a business $50,000 to run a crowdfunding campaign on an intermediary site and with fees, escrow and marketing costs.
“Every time you add a layer to the mix, you are costing them money,” he said.
There might be more small businesses trying equity crowdfunding if they could put up an offering on their own websites – like an investor page.
Rome said he wants equity crowdfunding to work and he’s open to adjusting some of the rules, which he said were designed to protect the investors.
Dakin said the rules and regulations have not been the main hang-up. The role of the Colorado intermediary was designed to be low cost – the intermediary cannot engage in marketing or take a stake in the business. Most businesses wouldn't have the infrastructure to handle the investments and keep up with the SEC rules.
"The largest issue is generally a lack of knowledge and a lack of systems available for people to use," he said.
But now there are two approved websites and the crowdfunding is ready for takeoff, he believes.
"I think we will get there eventually once people see success stories and see this as an alternative to the only choice they had before," he said.DT Updated an hour ago